Storm warning indicator



Nov. 5, 1957 c. H. BUDDE 2,812,512

STORM WARNING INDICATOR Filed Sept, 9, 1955 INVENTOR.

A'ITDRN EYS STORM WARNING INDICATOR Charles H. Budde, St. Louis, Mo. Application September 9, 1955, Serial No. 533,386 3 Claims. (Cl. 340-241) This invention relates to a warning signal, and more particularly to a storm warning signal.

The object of the invention is to provide a warning mechanism which is automatically actuated when a storm such as a tornado approaches so that persons in the path of the storm will be able to take shelter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a storm Warning signal which includes a plurality of indicators that are adapted to be arranged in spaced relation about an area such as a town or city whereby when the winds of the storm engage any of the storm signals, an audible signal will be given so that the persons in the city will have time to seek shelter or safety.

A further object of the invention is to provide a storm warning signal which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture. R A

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating schematically a plurality of the signal mechanisms positioned around a city or the like.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, with parts broken away and in section, illustrating one of the signals.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. I

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral designates schematically or diagrammatically in Fig ure 1 an area such as a city which is to be protected by the signal mechanisms of the present invention. Each of the signal mechanisms is indicated generally by the numeral 11, and one of the signal mechanisms which is responsive to wind, is shown in detail in Figure 2. Thus, each .of the signal mechanisms 11 includes a vertically disposed post or pole 12 which may have its lower end embedded in the ground. Mounted on the upper end of each of the poles 12 is a base 14 which may be secured to the pole or post 12 by means of brackets 15. A sleeve 16 is mounted in each base 14, and a flexible tube 17 extends upwardly from the sleeve 16. Mounted on the upper end of the sleeve 17 is a spherical body member 18 which includes an upper section 19 and a lower section 20 which may be threadedly connected together, Figure 3.

Surrounding the upper portion of the tube 17 and surrounding the body member 18 is a protective cage 21 which includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs or bars 22 that may be interconnected together by means of braces 23. A bracket 24 may secure the lower end of the cage 21 to the base 14. For limiting swinging movement of the flexible tube 17, there is provided a circular guard or ring member 25 which may be supported by a plurality of legs 26, and the lower ends of the legs 26 may be secured to an adjustable nut 27.

Positioned within the body member 18 and mounted on the upper end of the tube 17 is a hollow casing 28 which is adapted to hold a quantity of mercury 29 therein, Figure 3. A circular ring or contact 30 is secured within the casing 28, and a pair of wires 31 and 32 are arranged to extend through the tube 17. The wire 31 is elecrtically connected to the contact 30, and the free end of the wire 32 is spaced from the ring 30.

When the velocity of the wind exceeds a predetermined level, the body member 18 and tube 17 will move from the vertical position shown in Figure 2 to an inclined position so that the mercury 29 will complete the circuit between the ring 30 and the wire 32 and this in turn will energize an audible signal such as a buzzer 33, Figure 2. Thus, there is provided a solenoid 34 which serves to actuate a lever 35 which may be pivotally connected to a support member 37 by means of a hinge pin 36. The lower end of the lever 35 is adapted to engage teeth 40 which project upwardly from a bar 38 which may be pivotally mounted by means of a pin 39. A coil spring 41 is connected to the bar 38, and a coil spring 42 is connected to the lever 35. The numeral 43 designates a suitable source of electrical energy such as batteries, and the numerals 44 and 45 designate wires which may be used for electrically connecting together a plurality of the signal mechanisms 11.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a storm warning system and in use a plurality of the signals such as the signals 11 may be spaced circumferentially around an area such as the area 10. Then, when the winds of the storm engage any of the signal mechanisms, the tube 17 will move from the solid line position of Figure 2 to the broken line positionof Figure 2 whereby the mercury 29 will complete the circuit between the contact 30 and the wire 32. This will actuate the solenoid 34 which will attract the lever 35 to thereby complete the circuit from the battery 43 to the buzzer 33. Thus, persons in the city or area 10 will know that the storm winds are approaching.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided a circumference of warning devices whereby a horn or other noise maker 33 serves to notify everyone at once that a tornado is approaching.

The present invention will give a definite and last minute warning signal when a tornado is definitely approaching a certain town and it is still two or three miles from the town, so that the people will be given a few minutes to get into a shelter and protect their lives when the tornado passes. It will be seen from Figure 1 that there is provided a circumference of warning devices around the town which are connected to a warning signal within the town, and the buzzers 33 may be arranged within the town. The flexible member 17 is sensitive to air pressure which is caused by wind or by a comparative vacuum to operate the signal device. The nut 27 can be adjusted to cause the member 17 operated by air pressure to become effective at a given air pressure. There is further provided the guard which prevents the flexible member 17 from being damaged by excessive air pressure. In Figure 1 the numeral 10 represents a town surrounded by a circumference in which poles 12 are placed at intervals around the circumference. On top of the poles 12 are the two electrical wire and these wires are connected in such a way that one of the wires leads to the coil 34 while the other wire leads to the battery 43. The air pressure operated switches are mounted on top of the poles. The base 14 may be fastened ontop of the pole and the member 16 is threaded in the base 14. The flexible tube 17 may be made of any suitable material and may in fact be a coil spring. The wires pass through the tube 17 and into the sealed glass chamber or casing 28 and this casing is fastened to the top of the tube 17. A quantity of mercury 29 is arranged'within the casing 28 and there is provided the guard 25. The lock nut 27 is adjustable. The cage 21 protects the complete unit and makes it tamper proof. 7 a

In actual practice, one of these air pressure operated switches may be made of known dimensions and qualities and placed in a wind tunnel and when the wind velocity reaches adegree that accompanies tornadoes, the member 27 is adjusted topermit the flexible tube 17 to be stopped by the guard ring 25. At the same time, the dimensions decided upon allow the mercury 29 to move as shown in Figure 3 in broken lines to a position touching the ring 30 andclosing the electrical circuit between the wires 31 and 32. When the air velocity is released, the flexible member 17' assumes a normal vertical position. Suitable markings may be used to determine how forceful the winds are and at what degree of wind velocity this air pressure switch will operate. The device is constructed so that the switch will respond to any direction the Wind will blow, and when an adequate number of the air pressure switches-are mounted on top of the poles 12 and a tornado approaches with its effects of high wind velocity and a comparative vacuum, the air pressure exerted on body member 18 from any direction will cause the tube 17 to bend and stop at the guard 25 and at the same time the mercury closes the circuit to energize the coil 34 and thereby attract the member 35 which pivots at the point 36. This closes the contacts 46 and 47 which complete the circuit through the battery 43 to the alarm signal 33. causing the alarm signal to give a loud enough noise to attract everyones attention to the fact that winds of tornado velocity are two or three miles from the town. The teeth on the bar 38 hold the contacts 46 and 47 closed until someone releases the mechanism, and then the spring 42 opens the contacts 46 and 47 and the spring 41 adjusts the bar 38 to normal position. If desired a suitable mechanism can be provided to eliminate the necessity of manually releasing the bar 38 and lever 35. Fog horns can be used on overlapping electrical circuits to accurately follow an irregular path of a tornado and the source of power may also be other than an electric battery. The present invention thus serves as a reliable and practical method of warning the people in adequate time that a tornado is in the immediate vicinity and dangerously close to them. i

It is desired to emphasize the principle of stifiening the flexible, air sensitive member. Thus, the stiffer or stronger the flexible member is made, the higher will be the speed of wind that will be required to bend it. Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, member 16 is screwed out of the base 14, and member 16 thereby raises upward around the flexible member 17 which is fastened at the bottom to base 14. The higher member 16 is raised the stiffer and more resistant flexible member 17 will become, thereby requiring a higher speed of wind to bend it. Adjustable member 27 permanently locks member 16 in position.

I claim:

1. In a signal mechanism adapted to be actuated by wind, a vertically disposed post, a base mounted on the upper end of said post, a, vertically disposed sleeve mounted in said base, a flexible tube extending upwardly from said sleeve, a spherical body member mounted on the up per end of said tube, a cage surrounding the upper portion of said tube and said body member, a casing mounted on the upper end of said tube and positioned in said body member and having a quantity of mercury therein, a circular contact mounted in said casing, a pair of wires extending through said tube and one of said wires being connected to said contact, said wires adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy, a solenoid connected to said wires, pivotally mounted spring pressed lever actuated by said solenoid, a spring pressed pivotally mounted bar having teeth thereon engaging said lever, and an audible signal actuated by said lever.

2. In a signal mechanism adapted to be actuated by wind, a vertically disposed post, a base mounted on the upper end of said post, a vertically disposed sleeve mounted in said base, a flexible tube extending upwardly from said sleeve, a spherical body member mounted on the upper end of said tube, a cage surrounding the upper portion of said tube and said body member, a casing mounted on the upper end of said tube and positioned in said body member and having a quantity of mercury therein,

' a circular contact mounted in said casing, a pair of wires extending through said tube, and one of said wires being connected to said contact, said wires adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy, a solenoid connected to said wires, a pivotally mounted spring pressed lever actuated by said solenoid, a spring pressed pivotally mounted bar having teeth thereonengaging said lever, and an audible signal actuated by said lever, a guard including a ring positioned in said cage, a plurality of legs depending from said ring, and a lock nut secured to said legs and mounted on said tube.

3. A signal mechanism adapted to be actuated by wind, comprising a vertically disposed post, a base mounted on the upper end of said post, a vertically disposed sleeve mounted in said base, a flexible tube extending upwardly from said sleeve, a spherical body member mounted on the upper end of said tube, a cage surrounding the upper portion of said tube and said body member, a casing mounted on the upper end of said tube and positioned in said body member and having a quantity of mercury therein, a circular contact mounted in said casing, a pair of wires extending through said tube, one of said wires being connected to said contact, said wires adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy, a guard including a ring positioned in said cage, a plurality of legs depending from said ring, and a lock nut secured to said legs and mounted on said tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,729,137 Stalmach Sept. 24, 1929 1,745,714 Reynolds et a1. Feb. 4, 1930 1,776,297 Sanderson Sept. 23, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS 277,357 Switzerland Nov. 16, 1951 

